Loose-leaf ledger.



PATENTED APR. 26, 1904'.

H W. AYRES. noosn LEAF LBBGER. APRLIOATIGN FILED APR. 20, 1903.

H0 MODEL.

, ZfiVerzZor WAsMIMsYum a c.

' UNITED STATES Patented s 'rn 2e, 1on4.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY w. Arline, or LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

LOOSE-LEAF LEDGER.

SPEGIFIGATJOH forming 5ml: of Letters Patent No. 758,292, dated April 29, 190.4. Application filed April 20, 1903, Serial No; 153,431. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, H ENRY W. AYREs, a citi-. zen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and'State of California, have invented a new and useful Loose-Leaf Ledger of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to books'in which the leaves are detachably' held and which is ad justable to hold various numbers of leaves.

Loose-leaf ledgershave been constructed in.

' w hich the sheetsv have been provided "with perforations throughwhich posts, carried by the back or covers of the book, pass to hold the. sheets in place. made to be detached at one orbotli ends to permit of the insertion or removal of a leaf or leaves. In, other forms the posts have been made telescopic and detachable when extended. The present invention is an improvement over such devices in that the possibility of the tearing of the leaves adjacent the per forations is reduced and muchofthe diflicultywhich heretofore existed ininserting leaves has been removed. In devices such as de'- scribed to. prevent the leaves from shaking, out of line and to maintain them exactly true when a'pack or number of leaves are to be in sorted-at a time it has been extremely difiicult to get all 'ofthe perforations in the sheets into register in order to slip them into place. The leaves consequently frequently became torn or damaged around the perforations which allowed them to sag, making it diflicult to handle the leaves when using the book and.

also detracting from the appearance of the book. I p

An object of the present invention is to pro- .vide devices for fastening the leaves which will overcome the. foregoing difiiculties-and The posts have been which will enable either a single leaf or a number of leaves together to he quickly placed in position without requiring as great perforations as heretofore has been necessary.

When the book is opened, a leaf or number of transferred from one cover to the other-or rrnnoved, or a number of leaves together can removed with facility. When the covers are with either cover, which allows the hook to be opened at the exact leaf desired, and the covers lie flat. In the present invention the her of a .pair being semicircular in cross-sec: t1onthat is, each member comprismga post and the covers lie fiat four members-are presented, which may carry the sections of leaves which lieon each cover, while' when' the book. -is'closed the separate members of the post be .come united and form cylindrical posts. In

members of the posts automatically slide toget'her,*- but do not catch at the edges of the perforations. Means are also provided for locking the two sections with the respective pairs of posts-together.

invention and form part of this application.

' Referring to the drawings; Figure I is a perspective view showing the two covers of a book opened and slightly separated and equipped with the present invention. FigLII is a longitudinal section of a' book closed, looking tocovers in section. The leaves are also in section on the line of their perforations, while the fastening devices and otherfeatures of the 1 present 'invention'are shown'in elevation.v The III is a transverse sectional view taken through the book looking towardone end thereof, the section being taken on line III III, s Fig. IV is a detailsection taken on line IV IV;

be transferred from one cover to the other-or bringing the-covers of the book together the" Fig. II..

attention to be paid to the alinement'of -the The devices are so constructed that thefleaves are brought into alinement automatically.

leaye's maybe inserted, or a single leaf can be Y 60.

separated, part or all of the leaves may remain posts whichpass through the perforations in p the leaves are constructed in pairs, each memis half-round, so that when the book is'opened The accompanying drawings illustrate the I 9. 4 ward the back of the book, and shows the book-" 95. book is shown as half-filled with leaves. Fig.

Fig. II. Fig. V is a plan view of one end of the i lower section of the fastening device, showing through, the line V11 V11, Fig. V. Fig. VIII is a sectional view taken on line VIII VIII,

Fig. 1X is a transverse sectional Fig. VII. view through one leaf with its attache'd member of the fastening device, the view being taken o'n'a line which passes through a perforation in the leaves, a few leaves being shown in position. The view shows the upper member. Fig. X is a view similar to Fig. IX, showing the lower cover and its attaching member of the fastening device.

The invention .comprises upper and lower supporting members, which are attached to the respective covers, each member being provided with at least two half-round posts which are adapted to slide together when the upper and lower members are united. The two half round. members form when together a cylindrica'l post, and means are furnished for locking the upper and lower members at various distances apart. 7

1 designates the upper cover of the book.

2 designates the lower cover.

3 designates the upper supporting member, which in the present embodiment is L-shaped in cross-section and is provided at the ends with plates 4. The edges of the plates 4 are provided with flanges 5. The inside faces of the plates 4 are provided with lock-engaging means or seats, in the present embodiment a series of notchesor V-shaped grooves 6.

Referring to Fig; III, it will be seen that each cover comprises two layers of pasteboard or other stiff material 8. The two layers of pasteboard 8 may be covered with any-suitable wearing material, such as canvas or leather. Canvas may preferably be employed for the main portion of the. cover, as it is not so expensive'as ]eather,,while the latter may be employed for the back portion, as itrecei'ves the most wear, and leather affords a good material to which to fasten. The leather also serves as a hinge and reinforces or strengthens the hinge proper about to be described.

The supporting member 3 is provided with a top plate 10, (see Fig. 1H,) and between J the'two pieces of pasteboard 8 is glued or to the supporting member by scl ws'or, as

shown in the present embodiment; by rivets 12. The leather 9 is continued around the back of the supporting member 3 and is folded over the same and pasted thereto.

The rivets over the heads of the rivets and entirely con- 7 ceals'them and forms a covering for the fastening device and gives a finished appearance to the book. Where the leather curls over, it a may be pasted to the inner side of the plate.

The lower supporting member may comprise a bar 13, L-shaped in cross-section, the ends of which are upturned to form wings15. The wings 15 form a support-for catches or ldcking devices, (designated in general by 16.)

The-plates 4 of the supporting member 3 30 slide over the wi-.gs 15, and the latter guide the movement of the upper member and insure the accurate positioning of the two members.

by canvas and rivets, as shown. As will be seen by reference to Figs II, III, VII, and VIII, the upper member envelops the lower member, so to speak, and the leather 9 of the lower member is extended completely over 9 the entire back face of the L-shaped plate, so that as the latter is moved out and more of the plate exposed the leather covers the same and provides a good appearance. This face may or may not be covered with leather. some books I desire to cover it and in other books I propose to finish the metal. The supporting member carries half-round posts 17.- The free ends of the posts are rounded or beveled, as shown, so as to enable the 100 porting members are closed together, forming 1 a single cylindrical post. The two support ng members may be moved toward or away from each other to expand or contract the spacebetweenthem to allowfor the requisite number of leaves, and the posts 17 and 18 readily slip 5 or shift by each other andform a continuous connection between the two supporting members. The leaves are thus held fastened in the book until the two supporting members are disengaged from eachother, .at which time the posts separate and allow leaves to be inserted or removed. The rounded or beveled ends of the posts 17 and 18prevent them from catching on the edges of the leaves. The

size of the two half-mund memberswhen to- 5 gether, forming a single cylindrical post, is such that the perforations in'the leaves are nearly filled by the posts. The posts 17 are ofv the same length as the posts 18, so that'when.

the two supporting members are brought to- 3;

The lower supporting member is attachedto the pasteboard 8 of the lower cover 5 The lowersflpporting member car- 95 gether to the limit the ends of the posts l 8will,

' the lower supporting member.

rest against the upper supporting member, while the ends of the posts 17 will rest against Moreover, when the supporting members areseparated each of the posts will separate simultaneously, and, conversely, when the two members are brought together the ends of theposts will meet simultaneously. The end wings 15 serve i to guide the movement of the two members in parallel planes and preventbinding. The main object of providing the parallel motion of the supporting members is to insure that the posts will always be'in line, and to prevent the posts from becoming crossed at an angle to each other, which would cause them to' -catch in the leaves.- The flange 5 prevents any rocking of the supporting member 3 rela tively to the lower supporting member.

'Each locklfi comprises a latch 27, which is pivoted at 21 to a wing and which is provided with a finger-button 22, whereby it may be manipulated. V

23 designates a stud on the wing 1.5, which serves to support the latch 27 when the catch is raised free from .its engaging means. The end of the spring-catch is turned over to I "form a lip 24, which is adapted to engage with the grooves 6 in the end plates 4. The

grooves 6 are suificient in number, so that the latches 20 will be engaged irrespective of the space between the supporting members.

Fig. IV shows another form ofconstructing the "wings l5 andthe catch, in which the catch 20 is fastened at each of its lower corners by rivets 25. The lip 2a lies through a notch 26, formed in the upper edge of the wing 15. 27 is a finger lever or latch pivoted at 28 to the spring-catch 20, and its inner end bears against the wings 15 and acts as a fulcrum when the lever 27 is rocked and lifted up overthe top of the stud 23.

In both of the embodiments described I employ pivoted latches or catch-holding means for manually releasing the catches, said latches having both a swinging and a lifting movement; but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the specific construction .member and adapted to engage with said notches, a pivoted latch adapted to lift said catch out of said notches, and means for supporting said latch in raised position.

2. Upper and lower supporting members slidable together, half-round posts carried by 5 therespective members and adapted to pair together when the two members are brought together, end plates carried by the respective members, the end platesof the upper member,

being slidable over the end plates of the lower member, the end plates of the upper member being provided with a series of notches, springcatches secured to the inner sides of the end plates of the lower supporting member, said spring-catches being provided with lips which project through slots in the plates which support said spring-catches the lips of said catches adapted to engage with'the aforesaid notches,

and means extending beyond the edges of said end plates for manually releasing said catches. '3. Upper and lower supporting members slidable together, half-round posts carried by. v

the respective mem bers and adapted to pair together when the two members are brought together, end plates carried by the respective ,8 5

members, the end plates of the upper member being slidable over theend plates of the lower member, the end plates of the upper member-1 being provided with a series of notches, spring:

catches fastened to the end plates of the lower supporting member, said spring-matches being provided with slots in the plates which support said springcatches the lips of said catches adapted to engage with theaforesai'd' notches, and studs mounted on the respective end plates of the lower supporting members, said springcatc'hes being movable over the heads of their respective studsi 4. Upperand lower supporting members slidable together, half-round posts carried by lips which project through I ico the respective member-sand adapted to pair together when. the two members are brought to.

gether, end plates carried by the respective members, the end plates or the upper member being slidable over the end plates of the lower member, the end plates of the upper member being provided with, a -series of notches,

spring-catches fastened to the end plates of the lower supporting member, said springcatches being provided with lips which projectthronghslots in the plates which support said.

spring-catches the lips of said catches adapted to engage with the aforesaid notches, and studs mounted on the respective end plates of the lower supporting members, said springcatches being provided with latches movable over the heads of their respective studs, and finger buttons attached to the respective latches.

5. Upper and lower supporting members slidable together, half-round posts carried by the respective members and adapted to pair together when the two members-are brought together, end plates scarried by the respective members, ,the end plates of one member being slidable over the end plates of the other memher, the end plates of one member being pr ovided with series of seats, spring catchesc an ried by one member, said catches having lips adapted to project through cut-away portions of the end plates of the member'carrying said catches, said. lips adapted to engage the aforementioned seats, and catch-holding means for holding said lips out of engagement with said 5 seats.

1 gether, end plates carried by the respective members, the end plates of one member being slidable over the end plates of the other member, the end plates of one member being provided with series of seats, spring-catches car- 15 ried by one member, said catches having lips adapted to project through cut-away portions of the end plates of the member carrying said catches, said lips adapted to engage the aforementioned seats, catch-holding means for hold- 2 ing said lips out of engagement with said seats,-

-and means for manually throwing the latches into engagement with said holding means.

7. 1n aloose-leaf book, upper and lower supporting members slidable together, leaf- 5 holding means between the members, one of p said supportingmembers being provided with a series of notches, a spring-catch fastened to the other member and adapted to engage said notches, a pivoted latch adapted to lift said catch out of said notches, and a stud for supporting said latch in raised.position.

8. In a loose-leafbook, upper and lower supporting members slidable together, leafholding means between said members, one of said members being provided with a series of seats, a spring-catch carried by the other member and adapted to engage said seats, a latch having a lifting movement and a pivotal movement, said latch being adapted to lift said catch out of said seats, and means for supporting said latch in raised position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, at Los. Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California,

this 11th day of April, 1903.

HENRY WV. AYRES.

Witnesses;

(inone'n T. HAOKLEY, Fmmnmon S. LYoN. 

